Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

ABSTRACT

A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper playing hockey (e.g., roller hockey) is provided. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises protective padding and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding. The leg pad comprises a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved. The slider may be mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through an opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to protective athletic equipment and, more particularly, to leg pads for hockey goalkeepers.

BACKGROUND

Leg pads are worn by hockey goalkeepers to protect their legs against impacts from pucks, balls, hockey sticks or other objects and/or to protect their legs when moving (e.g., dropping) them onto a playing surface. A hockey goalkeeper's leg pad typically comprises protective padding for providing padded protection to the goalkeeper's leg and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding.

When the goalkeeper moves his/her leg on the playing surface to perform a maneuver during play, such as a shift of his/her leg or of his/her entire body on the playing surface to make a save, the leg pad's outer covering contacts the playing surface and friction between the outer covering and the playing surface, if too high, may create undesirable resistance to movement of the goalkeeper's leg. In some cases, such as when playing ice hockey on an icy playing surface, frictional effects may be unimportant or negligible. However, in other cases, such as when playing roller hockey on a dry playing surface (e.g., a polymeric, concrete, or wooden playing surface), friction between the outer covering and the playing surface may create significant resistance to movement of the goalkeeper's leg, particularly if the outer covering's material tends to “grab” onto the playing surface in some situations.

For these and other reasons, there is a need for improvements directed to facilitating movement of a hockey goalkeeper's leg pads on a playing surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises protective padding and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding. The outer covering comprises an opening in the medial side of the leg pad. The leg pad comprises a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved. The slider is mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through the opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises protective padding and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding. The outer covering comprises an opening in the medial side of the leg pad. The leg pad comprises a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved. The slider comprises an undermounted portion disposed underneath and overlapped by the outer covering. The slider comprises an exposed portion exposed through the opening of the outer covering and comprising a sliding surface to slide on the playing surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises protective padding and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding. The outer covering comprises an opening in the medial side of the leg pad. The leg pad comprises a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved. The slider comprises an undermounted portion disposed underneath and affixed to the outer covering. The slider comprises an exposed portion exposed through the opening of the outer covering and comprising a sliding surface to slide on the playing surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises protective padding and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding. The outer covering comprises an opening in the medial side of the leg pad. The leg pad comprises a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved. The slider is removable from the leg pad without removing at least a majority of the outer covering from the leg pad.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of arranging a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The method comprises: removing a first removable part fastened to the leg pad; providing a second removable part comprising a slider; and fastening the second removable part to the leg pad in place of the first removable part such that the slider is in the medial side of the leg pad to facilitate sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved

These and other aspects of the invention will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an example of leg pads for protecting legs of a hockey goalkeeper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the right leg pad;

FIG. 3 shows a medial side view of the right leg pad;

FIG. 4 shows a lateral side view of the right leg pad;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the right leg pad;

FIG. 6 shows a slider of the right leg pad;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the right leg pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a medial side view of the right leg pad of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9A shows a medial side view of a right leg pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, in which sliders are removable;

FIG. 9B shows end views of removable parts of the right leg pad of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 shows the right leg pad of FIG. 9A with the sliders installed thereon;

FIG. 11 shows a medial side view of a right leg pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, in which removable parts without sliders can be replaced by removable parts comprising sliders;

FIG. 12A shows a front view of the goalkeeper's right leg; and

FIG. 12B shows a medial side view of the goalkeeper's right leg.

The description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments of the invention and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an example of leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ wearable by a hockey goalkeeper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are worn on the hockey goalkeeper's legs 16 ₁, 16 ₂ while playing hockey to protect the legs 16 ₁, 16 ₂ against an impact from a puck, ball, hockey stick or other object and/or to protect the legs 16 ₁, 16 ₂ when moving (e.g., dropping) them onto a playing surface 12. In this embodiment, a type of hockey played is roller hockey such that the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are roller hockey goalkeeper leg pads, the hockey goalkeeper is a roller hockey goalkeeper, and the playing surface 12 is a dry playing surface for roller hockey (e.g., a polymeric, concrete, or wooden playing surface or any other dry playing surface on which roller hockey is played).

The leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ protect various regions of the goalkeeper's legs 16 ₁, 16 ₂. With additional reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, each leg 16 _(x). of the goalkeeper comprises an upper leg 18, a knee 19, a lower leg 20, and a foot 21. The upper leg 18 is above the knee 19, while the lower leg 20 is below the knee 19 and above the foot 21. The leg 16 _(x) of the goalkeeper has a front 22, a back 23, a medial side 24 (sometimes referred to as an “inner side”), and a lateral side 25 (sometimes referred to as an “outer side”).

In this embodiment, each leg pad 10 _(x) comprises an upper leg portion 30, a knee portion 31, a lower leg portion 32, and a foot portion 33 respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to the upper leg 18, the knee 19, the lower leg 20, and the foot 21 of the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) when the leg pad 10 _(x) is worn on the leg 16 _(x). The upper leg portion 30 is above the knee portion 31, while the lower leg portion 32 is below the knee portion 31 and above the foot portion 33. Each of these portions of the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises a frontal part, a medial part, and a lateral part such that the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises a frontal portion 26, a medial portion 27, and a lateral portion 28 respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to the front 22, the medial side 24, and the lateral side 25 of the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) when the leg pad 10 _(x) is worn on the leg 16 _(x). The frontal portion 26 comprises a front 34 of the leg pad 10 _(x), the medial portion 27 comprises a medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x), and the lateral portion 28 comprises a lateral side 36 of the leg pad 10 _(x). In this embodiment, the knee portion 31 comprises a knee wing 39 and the lower leg portion 32 comprises a calf wing 59.

The leg pad 10 _(x) can be secured to the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) in any suitable way. For example, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises straps (not shown) to secure the leg pad 10 _(x) to the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x). Such straps are well known and will not be discussed herein.

As further discussed later on, the leg pad 10 _(x) facilitates sliding of the leg pad 10 _(x) on the playing surface 12 when the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) is moved as the goalkeeper performs a maneuver during play, such as, for example, a shift of his/her leg 16 _(x) or a shift of his/her entire body on the playing surface 12 to make a save. This sliding facilitation makes it easier for the goalkeeper to move his/her leg 16 _(x) and thus makes it easier to perform the desired maneuver on the playing surface 12. Notably, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10 _(x) facilitates sliding of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) on the playing surface 12 when the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) is moved. This can be particularly beneficial in situations where the goalkeeper uses a so-called “butterfly” goaltending style in which he/she goes down on both of the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ with his/her toes pointing outwards and top ends of the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ converging towards and possibly meeting one another. In that position, at least part of the medial side 35 of each of the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ lies on the playing surface 12 and, therefore, facilitating sliding of the medial side 35 of each of the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ is useful.

With additional reference to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises protective padding 40, an outer covering 42 disposed over the protective padding 40, and an inner liner 44 disposed under the protective padding 40. The leg pad 10 _(x) also comprises a plurality of sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ for facilitating sliding of the leg pad 10 _(x), including sliding of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x), on the playing surface 12 when the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) is moved.

The protective padding 40 provides padded protection to the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x). To that end, the protective padding 40 may comprise any suitable shock-absorbing material. For example, in some embodiments, the protective padding 40 may comprise foam, such as polyurethane foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam, expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam), vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other suitable foam, and/or may comprise shock-absorbing material other than foam (e.g., a gel).

In this embodiment, the protective padding 40 comprises protective padding portions 48 ₁-48 P distributed in the upper leg portion 30, the knee portion 31, the lower leg portion 32, and the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10 _(x). More particularly, in this example, the protective padding portions 48 ₁-48 P are distributed in the frontal, medial and lateral parts of the upper leg portion 30, the knee portion 31, the lower leg portion 32, and the foot portion 33 such that they are distributed in the frontal portion 26, the medial portion 27, and the lateral portion 28 of the leg pad 10 _(x). In some cases, different ones of the protective padding portions 48 ₁-48 P may be distinct pads separate from one another. In other cases, different ones of the protective padding portions 48 ₁-48 P may be part of a common pad. The protective padding 40 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.

The outer covering 42 faces away from the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) and may comprise any suitable material. For example, in this embodiment, the outer covering 42 comprises synthetic pliable material. More particularly, in this embodiment, the synthetic pliable material of the outer covering 42 is synthetic leather. For instance, in some examples of implementation, the synthetic leather of the outer covering 42 may be polyurethane (PU) leather. The outer covering 42 may comprise various other materials and/or be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments (e.g., it may comprise a nylon fabric, a polyester fabric, a Cordura™ fabric, or any other suitable fabric).

The inner liner 44 faces the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) and may comprise any suitable material. For example, in this embodiment, the inner liner 44 comprises fabric. For instance, in some examples of implementation, the fabric of the inner liner 44 may comprise a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, synthetic microfibers, a synthetic woven knit, a polyurethane laminate, a mesh, or any other suitable fabric. The inner liner 44 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.

The protective padding 40, the outer covering 42 and the inner liner 44 are fastened together during manufacturing of the leg pad 10 _(x). In this embodiment, the outer covering 42 is affixed to at least one of the protective padding 40 and the inner liner 44. More particularly, in this example, the outer covering 42 is sewn to the inner liner 44 along a perimeter of the leg pad 10 _(x) to form a cavity receiving the protective padding 40 and is laced to both the protective padding 40 and the inner liner 44 by laces 49 ₁-49 _(L). In other embodiments, the outer covering 42 may be affixed to one or both of the protective padding 40 and the inner liner 44 by other types of fasteners (e.g., staples, an adhesive, etc.).

Each of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ is provided to facilitate sliding of the leg pad 10 _(x) on the playing surface 12 when the goalkeeper's leg 16 _(x) is moved. More particularly, in this embodiment, the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₈ are located in the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) to facilitate sliding of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) on the playing surface 12. In this example, the slider 46 ₁ is located in the medial part of the foot portion 33, the sliders 46 ₂-46 ₅ are located in the medial part of the lower leg portion 32, and the sliders 46 ₆-46 ₈ are located in the medial part of the knee portion 31. Also, in this embodiment, the slider 46 ₉ is located in the front 34 of the leg pad 10 _(x) to facilitate sliding of the front 34 of the leg pad 10 _(x) on the playing surface 12. More specifically, in this example, the slider 46 ₉ is located in the front part of the foot portion 33 adjacent to the medial part of the foot portion 33. This can further facilitate sliding since that region of the front part of the foot portion 33 near the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) may come into contact with the playing surface 12 as the goaltender moves his/her leg 16 _(x) during play.

The sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ are mounted beneath the outer covering 42 and exposed through respective openings 50 ₁-50 ₉ of the outer covering 42 to slide on the playing surface 12. Specifically, each slider 46 _(x) is at least partly disposed beneath the outer covering 42 and is exposed through an opening 50 _(x) of the outer covering 42 such that it can contact and slide on the playing surface 12.

The slider 46 _(x) can therefore slide on the playing surface 12 while being anchored in the leg pad 10 _(x). This anchoring can help to retain the slider 46 _(x) in the leg pad 10 _(x), particularly against frictional forces exerted on the slider 46 _(x) when it slides on the playing surface 12.

With additional reference to FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the slider 46 _(x) comprises an undermounted portion 52 and an exposed portion 54. The undermounted portion 52 is disposed underneath and overlapped by the outer covering 42. The exposed portion 54 is exposed through the opening 50, of the outer covering 42 and comprises a sliding surface 55 to slide on the playing surface 12.

More particularly, in this embodiment, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) is affixed to the outer covering 42. In this example, the undermounted portion 52 is sewed to the outer covering 42 via stitches 63 ₁-63-_(T). In other examples, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) may be affixed to the outer covering 42 via any other suitable fastener (e.g., staples, an adhesive, etc.). Also, in other embodiments, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) may be affixed to the protective padding 40 in addition to or instead of the outer covering 42.

In this embodiment, the exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x) projects outwardly relative to the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x). More particularly, in this example of implementation, the exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x) projects outwardly such that it extends through the opening 50, of the outer covering 42 and at least part of its sliding surface 55 protrudes outwardly beyond an external surface 57 of the outer covering 42. This may help to prevent or limit contact between the outer covering 42 and the playing surface 12. The exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x) may not project outwardly relative to, but may rather be flush with, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) in other embodiments.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) surrounds the exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x). More specifically, in this case, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) extends along an entirety of a perimeter of the exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x). In other embodiments, the undermounted portion 52 may be shaped in a manner such that it extends along less than all of the perimeter of the exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x). For example, in some embodiments, the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) may extend along two or more spaced apart portions of the exposed portion 54 of the slider 46 _(x) (e.g., in an intermittent fashion).

The slider 46 _(x) and the opening 50 _(x) of the outer covering 42 can have any suitable shape and be arranged in any suitable manner on the leg pad 10 _(x). For example, in this embodiment, each of the slider 46 _(x) and the opening 50 _(x) of the outer covering 42 is elongated. More particularly, in this example of implementation, each of the slider 46 _(x) and the opening 50 _(x) of the outer covering 42 is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10 _(x). Other shapes and/or orientations of the slider 46 _(x) and the opening 50 _(x) of the outer covering 42 may be used in other examples of implementation.

The sliding surface 55 of the slider 46 _(x) is exposed to, faces and contacts the playing surface 12 when the slider 46 _(x) slides on the playing surface 12. In this embodiment, the sliding surface 55 is uneven such that, when the slider 46 _(x) slides on the playing surface 12, less than all of the sliding surface 55 contacts the playing surface 12. More particularly, in this example, the sliding surface 55 of the slider 46 _(x) is uneven such that a first part 71 of the sliding surface 55 projects outwardly relative to a second part 73 of the sliding surface 55. This results in the slider 46 _(x) abutting against the playing surface 12 such that the first part 71 of the sliding surface 55 has a greater tendency to contact the playing surface 12 than the second part 73 of the sliding surface 55. In this case, when the first part 71 of the sliding surface 55 contacts the playing surface 12, the second part 73 of the sliding surface 55 does not contact the playing surface 12.

More particularly, in this embodiment, the sliding surface 55 of the slider 46 _(x) comprises a plurality of sliding contact areas 60 ₁-60 ₃ spaced apart by recesses 62 ₁, 62 ₂. Each sliding contact area 60 _(x) is an area of the sliding surface 55 which can be in contact with and slide on the playing surface 12 when the slider 46 _(x) slides on the playing surface 12. In this example, the sliding contact areas 60 ₁-60 ₃ are on outwardly projecting or raised portions 70 ₁-70 ₃ of the sliding surface 55 that define the recesses 62 ₁, 62 ₂ between them. As such, in this example, the sliding surface 55 of the slider 46 _(x) can be seen as having a “peak and valley” configuration in which each outwardly projecting portion 70 _(x) defines a “peak” and each recess 62 _(x) defines a “valley”. The sliding surface 55 of the slider 46 _(x) may have any other number of sliding contact areas and recesses in other embodiments (e.g., two sliding contact areas with a single recess in between, or four or more sliding contact areas with three or more recesses in between).

In this embodiment, to facilitate sliding, a coefficient of friction C_(s) between the slider 46 _(x) and the playing surface 12 is lower than a coefficient of friction C_(oc) between the outer covering 42 and the playing surface 12. For instance, in some examples of implementation, a ratio C_(s)/C_(oc) of the coefficient of friction C_(s) between the slider 46 _(x) and the playing surface 12 and the coefficient of friction C_(oc) between the outer covering 42 and the playing surface 12 may be no more than 0.9, in some cases no more than 0.85, in some cases no more than 0.8, and in some cases even less (e.g., no more than 0.6). The ratio C_(s)/C_(oc) of the coefficients of friction may have any other value in other examples of implementation.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slider 46 _(x) is more rigid than the outer covering 42. More specifically, in this example of implementation, a hardness H_(s) of the slider 46 _(x) is higher than a hardness H_(oc) of the outer covering 42. For example, in some embodiments, the hardness H_(s) of the slider may be at least 60 durometers Shore D, in some cases at least 70 durometers Shore D, in some cases at least 80 durometers Shore D, and in some cases at least 90 durometers Shore D. The hardness H_(s) of the slider 46 _(x) may have any other suitable value in other embodiments.

The slider 46 _(x) can be made of any suitable material. For example, in this embodiment, the slider 46 _(x) comprises polymeric material. More specifically, in this example, the polymeric material of the slider 46 _(x) is polycarbonate. In other examples, the polymeric material of the slider 46 _(x) may be nylon, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any other suitable polymeric material. In other embodiments, the slider 46 _(x) may comprise another type of polymeric material, metallic material, composite material (e.g., a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer) and/or any other suitable material or combination of materials (e.g., a coating of PFTE on a base material).

The sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ may have any other suitable shape and/or be made of any other suitable material. Also, while there are nine sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ in the leg pad 10 _(x) in this embodiment, there may be any other number of sliders such as the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ in other embodiments (e.g., only one slider, or two, three or more sliders) as discussed previously. For example, FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment in which the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises twelve sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ located in the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) to facilitate sliding of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) on the playing surface 12. In this example, the slider 46 ₁ is located in the medial part of the foot portion 33, the sliders 46 ₂-46 ₉ are located in the medial part of the lower leg portion 32, and the sliders 46 ₁₀-46 ₁₂ are located in the medial part of the knee portion 31. In this embodiment, there is no slider located in the front 34 of the leg pad 10 _(x) (i.e., the slider 46 ₉ located in the front part of the foot portion 33 in the embodiment discussed above is omitted in this embodiment). In this example, different ones of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ have different shapes, namely the sliders 46 ₁, 46 ₅, 46 ₆ are smaller than the sliders 46 ₂-46 ₄, 46 ₇-46 ₁₂.

The leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ may be constructed in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ may have any other suitable shape and/or be made of any other suitable material.

In embodiments considered above the leg pad 10 _(x) is constructed such that its sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ or 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are permanently present on the leg pad 10 _(x). That is, the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ or 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are irremovable from the leg pad 10 _(x) without damaging the leg pad 10 _(x).

In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10, the leg pad 10 _(x) may be constructed such that its sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are removable from the leg pad 10 _(x). In other words, a slider 46 _(x) may be removably fastenable to the leg pad 10 _(x) such that the slider 46 _(x) can be fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x) and then unfastened and removed from the leg pad 10 _(x) (without damaging the leg pad 10 _(x)). For example, in some cases, this may facilitate replacement of the slider 46 _(x) by a new slider 46 _(x)* when the slider 46 _(x) is worn out or damaged. Alternatively or additionally, in some cases, this may allow the leg pad 10 _(x) to be configured in various configurations, including a “slider configuration” in which one or more of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are provided on the leg pad 10 _(x) and a “no-slider configuration” in which the leg pad 10 _(x) is free of sliders (i.e., has no sliders-the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are not provided on the leg pad 10 _(x)).

More particularly, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises a plurality of removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ which are removable from a main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) pad and comprise respective ones of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂. In addition, in this embodiment, the removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ comprise respective portions 38 ₁-38 ₅ of the outer covering 42. Each removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x) is removably fastenable to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) such that the removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x), including one or more of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ it comprises, can be fastened to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) and then unfastened and removed from the leg pad 10 _(x). The removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂, when fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x), constitute respective regions of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x). More specifically, in this example: the removable part 53 ₁, when fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x), constitutes a region of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) located in the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10 _(x); the removable parts 53 ₂, 61 ₁, when fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x), constitute respective regions of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) located in the lower leg portion 30 of the leg pad 10 _(x), the region of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) constituted by the removable part 61 ₁ being located in the calf wing 59 ₁ of the lower leg portion 30; and the removable parts 53 ₃, 61 ₂, when fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x), constitute respective regions of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) located in the knee portion 31 of the leg pad 10 _(x), the region of the medial side 35 of the leg pad 10 _(x) constituted by the removable part 61 ₂ being located in the knee wing 39 ₁ of the knee portion 31.

In this embodiment, a slider 46 _(x) of a removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x) is at least partly disposed beneath the portion 38 _(x) of the outer covering 42 of the removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x) and is exposed through an opening 50 _(x) of the portion 38 _(x) of the outer covering 42 of the removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x), and the undermounted portion 52 of the slider 46 _(x) is affixed (in this case sewed) to the portion 38 _(x) of the outer covering 42 of the removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x), as discussed in embodiments considered previously.

The removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ can be fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x) using any suitable fastener. For example, in this embodiment, the removable parts 53-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ are fastenable to the leg pad 10 _(x) using different fasteners, namely hook-and-loop (e.g., Velcro) fasteners 45 ₁-45 ₃, 87 ₁, 87 ₂ and laces 77 ₁, 77 ₂. Any other number of fasteners (e.g., one, three, etc.) and/or any other type of fastener (e.g., buttons, clips, zippers, etc.) may be used to fasten the removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ in other embodiments.

More particularly, in this embodiment, each removable part 53 _(x) comprises a hook portion 69 of the hook-and-loop fastener 45 _(x) used to fasten that removable part, a lacing area 74 ₁ to receive the lace 77 ₁ used to fasten that removable part, and a lacing area 74 ₂ to receive the lace 77 ₂ used to fasten that removable part. The main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises lacing areas 75 ₁, 75 ₂ to receive respective ones of the laces 77 ₁, 77 ₂, a loop portion 89 of each of the hook-and-loop fastener 45 ₁-45 ₃, and a loop portion 90 of each of the hook-and-loop fasteners 87 ₁, 87 ₂.

The lacing area 74 ₁ of the removable part 53 _(x) is configured to cooperate with the lacing area 75 ₁ of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) in order to define a lacing channel for receiving the lace 77 ₁, thereby lacing the removable part 53 _(x) to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x). In this example, the lacing area 74 ₁ of the removable part 53 _(x) comprises a plurality of lacing conduits 78 ₁-78 _(G) and the lacing area 75 ₁ of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises a plurality of lacing conduits 79 ₁-79 _(R) such that the lacing conduits 78 ₁-78 _(G) of the removable part 53 _(x) can be aligned with respective ones of the lacing conduits 79 ₁-79 _(R) of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) to define the lacing channel through which the lace 77 ₁ can be passed. Thus, in this case, when the removable part 53 _(x) is laced to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x), the lacing area 74 ₁ of the removable part 53 _(x), the lacing area 75 ₁ of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x), and the lace 77 ₁ form a hinge-like joint 80. The removable part 53 _(x) can be folded over onto the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) about the hinge-like joint 80 such that the portions 69, 89 of the hook-and-loop fastener 45 _(x) overlap and interconnect. In this position, the lacing area 74 ₂ of the removable part 53 _(x) is configured to cooperate with the lacing area 75 ₂ of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) and a lacing area of a removable part 61 _(x) to receive the lace 77 ₂, as discussed below. To that end, in this example, the lacing area 74 ₂ of the removable part 53 _(x) comprises a plurality of lacing holes 58 ₁-58 _(h) and the lacing area 75 ₂ of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) comprises a plurality of lacing holes 68 ₁-68 _(b).

Also, in this embodiment, the removable part 61 ₁ is configured to be mounted over a calf wing member 91 of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) and the removable part 61 ₂ is configured to be mounted over a knee wing member 92 of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x). More particularly, in this example, the removable part 61 ₁ comprises a pocket 93 for receiving the calf wing member 91 and the removable part 61 ₂ comprises a pocket 94 for receiving the knee wing member 92. Each removable part 61 _(x) comprises a hook portion 98 of the hook-and-loop fastener 87 _(x) used to fasten that removable part, straps 95 ₁, 95 ₂ for connection to the calf wing member 91 or knee wing member 92 over which it is mounted, and a lacing area 96 to receive the lace 77 ₂ used to fasten that removable part. The removable part 61 ₁ can be slipped onto the calf wing member 91 so that its pocket 93 receives the calf wing member 91, the portions 98, 90 of the hook-and-loop fastener 87 ₁ overlap and interconnect, and its straps 95 ₁, 95 ₂ are connected to the calf wing member 91 (e.g., its straps 95 ₁, 95 ₂ and the calf wing member 91 may comprise hook-and-loop fasteners to interconnect them). Similarly, the removable part 61 ₂ can be slipped onto the knee wing member 92 so that its pocket 94 receives the knee wing member 92, the portions 98, 90 of the hook-and-loop fastener 87 ₂ overlap and interconnect, and its straps 95 ₁, 95 ₂ are connected to the knee wing member 92 (e.g., its straps 95 ₁, 95 ₂ and the knee wing member 92 may comprise hook-and-loop fasteners to interconnect them).

The lacing area 96 of the removable part 61 _(x) is configured to cooperate with the lacing area 75 ₂ of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) and the lacing area 74 ₂ of the removable part 53 _(x) to receive the lace 77 ₂, thereby lacing the removable parts 53 _(x), 61 _(x) to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x). In this example, the lacing area 96 of the removable part 61 _(x) comprises a plurality of lacing holes 99 ₁-99 _(d). Respective ones of the lacing holes 58 ₁-58 _(h) of the removable part 53 _(x), the lacing holes 99 ₁-99 _(d) of the removable part 61 _(x), and the lacing holes 68 ₁-68 _(b) of the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) can be aligned with one another to allow passage of the lace 77 ₂ through these holes, thereby lacing these components together.

The removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ comprising the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, a removable part 53 _(x)/61, may comprise a slider 46 _(x) but may not comprise any portion of the outer covering 42 such that the slider 46 _(x) can be individually clipped, buttoned or otherwise fastened to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x).

The removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ thus facilitate installation of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ on the leg pad 16 _(x) and removal of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ from the leg pad 10 _(x). This can be useful in various ways.

For example, in some embodiments, when a slider 46 _(x) needs to be replaced since it is no longer in acceptable condition (e.g., being worn out or damaged), a removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x) comprising the slider 46 _(x) can be unfastened and removed from the leg pad 10 _(x) and a replacement removable part 53 _(x)*/61 _(x)* comprising a replacement slider 46 _(x)* can be fastened to the leg pad 10 _(x) in place of the removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x).

As another example, in some embodiments, the leg pad 10 _(x) may be configured in various configurations in which it is either free of any slider (i.e., has none of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂) or has some or all of the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂, depending on what the goalkeeper desires. For instance, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the leg pad 10 _(x) may comprise a plurality of removable parts 153 ₁-153 ₃, 161 ₁, 161 ₂ fastened to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x) where respective ones of the removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ comprising the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are fastenable. In this case, each removable part 153 _(x)/161 _(x) is free of any slider but otherwise substantially identical to a removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x) mountable in its place. The removable part 153 _(x)/161 _(x) can thus be unfastened and removed from the leg pad 10 _(x) and replaced by the removable part 53 _(x)/61 _(x), and vice versa. For example, in some cases, the removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ comprising the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ may be provided as an option or add-on for mounting in place of the removable part 153 ₁-153 ₃, 161 ₁, 161 ₂ without sliders.

In this embodiment, the removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ allow the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ to be installed on and removed from the leg pad 16 _(x) without removing at least a majority of the outer covering 42 from the leg pad 10 _(x). In other words, the removable parts 53 ₁-53 ₃, 61 ₁, 61 ₂ allow the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ to be installed on and removed from the leg pad 10 _(x) while at least a majority of the outer covering 42 remains in place on the leg pad 10 _(x). More particularly, in this example, a removable part 53 _(x)/63 _(x) can be installed on or removed from the leg pad 10 _(x) while respective portions of the outer covering 42 in the frontal portion 26, the medial portion 27, and the lateral portion 28 of the leg pad 16 _(x) remain in place. In other examples, the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ may be installable on and removable from the leg pad 16 _(x) without removing any of the outer covering 42 from the leg pad 10 _(x) (e.g., in cases where each slider 46 _(x) is a removable part that includes no portion of the outer covering 42 and that can be individually clipped, buttoned or otherwise fastened to the main structure 67 of the leg pad 10 _(x)).

Although embodiments considered above illustrate an example of how the leg pad 10 _(x) may be constructed such that its sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are removable, in other embodiments, the leg pad 10 _(x) may be constructed in various other ways such that its sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ are removable. For example, in other embodiments, the leg pad 10 _(x) may comprise quick-type connectors which allow its sliders 46 ₁-46 ₁₂ to be selectively connected to and disconnected from the leg pad 10 _(x).

While in embodiments considered above the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are roller hockey goalkeeper leg pads for playing roller hockey, in other embodiments, leg pads constructed using principles described herein in respect of the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ can be hockey goalkeeper leg pads for playing another type of hockey on a dry playing surface (e.g., field or street hockey).

Although in embodiments considered above the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ are for playing roller hockey on a dry playing surface, in other embodiments, leg pads constructed using principles described herein in respect of the leg pads 10 ₁, 10 ₂ can be hockey goalkeeper leg pads for playing ice hockey on an iced playing surface. In such embodiments, sliders such as the sliders 46 ₁-46 ₉ may have a lesser effect given that the iced playing surface inherently provides low friction and high slideability.

Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be combined with any feature of any other embodiment discussed herein in some examples of implementation.

To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure has been used to designate the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.

Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure.

Although various embodiments and examples have been presented, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications and enhancements will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and are within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. 

1. A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising: a) protective padding; b) an outer covering disposed over the protective padding, the outer covering comprising an opening in the medial side of the leg pad; and c) a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved, the slider being mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through the opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface.
 2. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises: an undermounted portion disposed underneath and overlapped by the outer covering; and an exposed portion exposed through the opening of the outer covering and comprising a sliding surface to slide on the playing surface.
 3. The leg pad of claim 2, wherein the exposed portion projects outwardly relative to the undermounted portion.
 4. The leg pad of claim 2, wherein the undermounted portion surrounds the exposed portion.
 5. The leg pad of claim 2, wherein the undermounted portion is affixed to the outer covering.
 6. The leg pad of claim 5, wherein the undermounted portion is affixed to the outer covering by being sewed to the outer covering.
 7. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider protrudes outwardly beyond an external surface of the outer covering.
 8. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein a coefficient of friction between the slider and the playing surface is lower than a coefficient of friction between the outer covering and the playing surface.
 9. The leg pad of claim 8, wherein a ratio of the coefficient of friction between the slider and the playing surface and the coefficient of friction between the outer covering and the playing surface is no more than 0.9.
 10. The leg pad of claim 8, wherein a ratio of the coefficient of friction between the slider and the playing surface and the coefficient of friction between the outer covering and the playing surface is no more than 0.8.
 11. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider is more rigid than the outer covering.
 12. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider has a hardness of at least 60 durometers Shore D.
 13. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider has a hardness of at least 80 durometers Shore D.
 14. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises polymeric material.
 15. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises at least one of polycarbonate and nylon.
 16. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises a sliding surface for facing and contacting the playing surface when the slider slides on the playing surface, the sliding surface being uneven such that, when the slider slides on the playing surface, less than all of the sliding surface contacts the playing surface.
 17. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises a sliding surface for facing and contacting the playing surface when the slider slides on the playing surface, the sliding surface being uneven such that a first part of the sliding surface projects outwardly relative to a second part of the sliding surface.
 18. The leg pad of claim 17, wherein, when the first part of the sliding surface contacts the playing surface, the second part of the sliding surface does not contact the playing surface.
 19. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider comprises a sliding surface for facing and contacting the playing surface when the slider slides on the playing surface, the sliding surface comprising a first sliding contact area, a second sliding contact area, and a recess between the first sliding contact area and the second sliding contact area.
 20. The leg pad of claim 19, wherein each of the first sliding contact area and the second sliding contact area forms a peak of the sliding surface.
 21. The leg pad of claim 19, wherein the recess is a first recess and the sliding surface comprises a third sliding contact area and a second recess between the second sliding contact area and the third sliding contact area.
 22. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad.
 23. The leg pad of claim 1, comprising a foot portion for overlying a foot of the hockey goalkeeper, the slider being located in the foot portion.
 24. The leg pad of claim 1, comprising a lower leg portion for overlying a lower leg of the hockey goalkeeper, the slider being located in the lower leg portion.
 25. The leg pad of claim 1, comprising a knee portion for overlying a knee of the hockey goalkeeper, the slider being located in the knee portion.
 26. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider is a first slider and the opening of the outer covering is a first opening, the outer covering comprising a second opening in the medial side of the leg pad, the leg pad comprising a second slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on the playing surface when the leg is moved, the second slider being mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through the second opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface.
 27. The leg pad of claim 26, wherein the first slider and the second slider are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad.
 28. The leg pad of claim 26, wherein the first slider and the second slider are spaced apart in a thickness direction of the leg pad.
 29. The leg pad of claim 26, comprising a foot portion for overlying a foot of the hockey goalkeeper and a lower leg portion for overlying a lower leg of the hockey goalkeeper, the first slider being located in the foot portion, the second slider being located in the lower leg portion.
 30. The leg pad of claim 26, wherein the outer covering comprises a third opening in the medial side of the leg pad, the leg pad comprising a third slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on the playing surface when the leg is moved, the third slider being mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through the third opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface.
 31. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider is a first slider and the opening of the outer covering is a first opening, the outer covering comprising a second opening in the front of the leg pad, the leg pad comprising a second slider in the front of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the front of the leg pad on the playing surface when the leg is moved, the second slider being mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through the second opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface.
 32. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the protective padding comprises foam.
 33. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the outer covering comprises synthetic pliable material.
 34. The leg pad of claim 33, wherein the synthetic pliable material comprises polyurethane.
 35. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the slider is removable from the leg pad.
 36. The leg pad of claim 35, wherein the leg pad comprises a removable part which is removably fastened to a main structure of the leg pad, the removable part comprising the slider and a portion of the outer covering.
 37. The leg pad of claim 36, wherein the slider is a first slider and the opening of the outer covering is a first opening, the outer covering comprising a second opening in the medial side of the leg pad, the leg pad comprising a second slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on the playing surface when the leg is moved, the second slider being mounted beneath the outer covering and exposed through the second opening of the outer covering to slide on the playing surface, the removable part comprising the second slider.
 38. The leg pad of claim 1, wherein the playing surface is a dry playing surface.
 39. The leg pad of claim 38, wherein the dry playing surface is a roller hockey playing surface and the leg pad is a roller hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
 40. A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising: a) protective padding; b) an outer covering disposed over the protective padding, the outer covering comprising an opening in the medial side of the leg pad; and c) a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved, the slider comprising: i. an undermounted portion disposed underneath and overlapped by the outer covering; and ii. an exposed portion exposed through the opening of the outer covering and comprising a sliding surface to slide on the playing surface.
 41. A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising: a) protective padding; b) an outer covering disposed over the protective padding, the outer covering comprising an opening in the medial side of the leg pad; and c) a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved, the slider comprising: i. an undermounted portion disposed underneath and affixed to the outer covering; and ii. an exposed portion exposed through the opening of the outer covering and comprising a sliding surface to slide on the playing surface.
 42. A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising: a) protective padding; b) an outer covering disposed over the protective padding; and a slider in the medial side of the leg pad for facilitating sliding of the medial side of the leg pad on a playing surface when the leg is moved, the slider being removable from the leg pad without removing at least a majority of the outer covering from the leg pad. 